Thank You, Frank Gehry

Source: Brittanica

When I heard that renowned architect Frank Gehry died , it stopped me in my tracks for a moment. I thought about all the work he had contributed to the world and about how his brand will live on forever. What a legacy!

Truth be told, I've always wanted to be an architect. When I was younger, people told me I wasn't "the type." I didn’t have the talent. They didn't discourage me outright, per se, but they just made it clear there was a more practical path. I was easily persuaded so I listened. I thought they knew better. I didn't become an architect.

But I watched Frank Gehry and others like him, and I did understand what I was missing so I chose my own path. No regrets. Just inspiration.

He didn't just design buildings. He merged creativity, imagination, and ingenuity into something that challenged how we saw space, materials, and possibility. He was bold. He was first. He was an innovator. He refused to follow the rules because he understood something bigger: the rules were designed by people who weren't thinking hard enough.

That's what made him his own brand. Frank Gehry.

Over time, I realized I didn't have to build physical structures to build something that lasts. I could do it through strategy, through ideas, through building brands. People like Frank Gehry showed me how to do it with fearlessness, with conviction, with the belief that doing it differently isn't risky. It's necessary.

He proved that creativity and boldness aren't luxuries. They're the only things worth building toward.

I'm grateful I had him to look up to. Even if I never drew a blueprint. Even though I never met him, I owe him my profound gratitude.

What’s your experience? JIM